- Launched
- April 2021
- Gross tonnage
- 181,541 GT
- Passengers
- 6,334 (max), 4,842 (double occupancy)
- Crew
- 1,704
- Length
- 331 m
- Home port
- Southampton (summer) / Mediterranean (winter)
MSC Virtuosa entered service in April 2021 as the second Meraviglia-Plus ship and MSC's flagship UK-market vessel. She spends summers at Southampton on Northern European and British Isles itineraries and winters in the Mediterranean.
Virtuosa mirrors Grandiosa's expanded architecture and adds MSC's most-photographed onboard feature: Rob the humanoid bartender, an animated arm-and-face robot mixing cocktails on the Galleria. She also debuted a Starship Cabin and expanded family staterooms designed with UK multigenerational travel in mind.
For British cruisers wanting the full modern MSC platform without flying, Virtuosa is the reference ship — bigger and newer than any P&O Cruises vessel out of Southampton and directly comparable in scale to Cunard's flagship Queen Anne.
Highlights
Rob the humanoid bartender
Animated robot bar on the Galleria — an MSC signature.
UK flagship
Summer no-fly Southampton programme with British Isles and Fjords itineraries.
Meraviglia-Plus Yacht Club
Expanded enclave versus original Meraviglia/Bellissima.
Same class
Sister ships
Launched 2017
MSC Meraviglia
The lead Meraviglia-class ship — the vessel that introduced the LED-domed Galleria and Cirque du Soleil at Sea.
Launched 2019
MSC Bellissima
Meraviglia's near-identical sister — the class's UK and Middle East workhorse.
Launched 2019
MSC Grandiosa
The first Meraviglia-Plus ship — larger Yacht Club, extended Galleria, and MSC's most complete children's facilities of the class.
Also in MSC Cruises
Other ships in the fleet
Launched 2022
MSC World Europa
MSC's LNG-powered European flagship, the first World-class ship and the current showcase for the MSC Yacht Club.
Launched 2025
MSC World America
MSC's Miami flagship — the second World-class ship, reconfigured for the North American Caribbean market with a redesigned promenade and expanded Yacht Club.
Launched 2017
MSC Seaside
The lead Seaside-class ship — MSC's first vessel purpose-designed for the North American Caribbean market.
Launched 2018
MSC Seaview
Seaside's European sister — the same outdoor-living platform deployed in the Mediterranean and Brazil.
Launched 2021
MSC Seashore
The first Seaside EVO ship — 20 metres longer than the original pair, with a larger Yacht Club and new dining and wellness spaces.
Launched 2022
MSC Seascape
The second Seaside EVO ship — Miami-based, and the ship that first proved the format works alongside a World-class flagship at the same homeport.
Launched 2008
MSC Fantasia
The class lead — the first mainstream cruise ship to feature a true ship-within-ship enclave in the MSC Yacht Club.
Launched 2009
MSC Splendida
Fantasia's near-identical sister — Mediterranean summers, seasonal South Africa deployment.
Launched 2012
MSC Divina
The third Fantasia-class ship — MSC's long-serving US Caribbean workhorse and a firm favourite of the North American MSC base.
Launched 2013
MSC Preziosa
The final Fantasia-class ship — Mediterranean summers, Northern European and Grand Voyage deployments.
Launched 2006
MSC Musica
The class lead — MSC's original mid-size Mediterranean workhorse and a favourite for longer port-intensive itineraries.
Launched 2007
MSC Orchestra
Near-identical Musica sister — Mediterranean summers, seasonal South African deployment.
Launched 2008
MSC Poesia
Third Musica-class ship — Mediterranean and Northern European specialist.
Launched 2010
MSC Magnifica
The final and slightly enlarged Musica-class ship — MSC's regular World Cruise vessel.
Launched 2015)
MSC Lirica
The class lead — MSC's oldest active modern ship, lengthened in 2015 and deployed on port-intensive itineraries.
Launched 2015)
MSC Opera
Near-identical Lirica sister — traditional format, port-intensive Mediterranean and Red Sea itineraries.
Launched 2014)
MSC Armonia
Ex-Festival Cruises hull adopted by MSC in 2004 — small-ship format with a Cuban deployment history.
Launched 2015)
MSC Sinfonia
The second ex-Festival hull adopted by MSC — small-ship format with a long South African deployment history.
Available on this ship
Onboard experiences
MSC Yacht Club
MSC's ship-within-ship suite enclave — a private, gated luxury product inside a mainstream ship.
MSC Aurea Experience
MSC's premium spa-oriented fare tier — a step below Yacht Club, a step above standard.
MSC Fantastica Experience
MSC's mid-tier fare — flexible dining, better cabins, and modest onboard perks.
MSC Bella Experience
MSC's entry-level fare — cheapest way onto an MSC ship.
Cruise line
Explore the brand
MSC Cruises
European-flavoured contemporary cruising with an aggressive value proposition and a strong ship-within-ship suite product.
MSC Group (parent group)
MSC Group is a privately-held Swiss-Italian shipping conglomerate controlled by the Aponte family, owner of MSC Cruises and the ultra-luxury Explora Journeys.
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